BIRDS OF NEW YORK 353 



on Long Island from the 19th of April to the 12th of May, and passing 

 northward from the 25th of May to the 5th of June, returning from the ist 

 to the 1 5 th of August and departing for the south from the 25 th of September 

 to the 15 th of October. On our inland waters it is less common than on 

 the coast, but occurs regularly from May loth to 30th and from August 

 ist to September 30th. It is common along the Great Lakes and the shores 

 and marshes of the central lake country. 



The Semipalmated plover or American ring-neck, at first sight suggests 

 to the beginner in bird study a diminutive Killdeer, but it is much smaller, 

 has a shorter bill and tail, and lacks the ocherous rump and the second 

 belt on the breast. It is more of a beach bird than the Killdeer. When 

 it first arrives on our shores and has not yet learned the ways of our pot 

 hunters and young sportsmen, it is so unsuspicious that one may approach 

 within a few feet of it. While visiting the mud flats in August, I have 

 sometimes thought them entirely deserted, and have stood looking into the 

 distance in search of migrants, when suddenly I became aware that these 

 gentle little birds were all about me. While motionless they were quite 

 unnoticeablc, but as soon as one of them ran swiftly along with its peculiar 

 ploverlike gait, he became clearly visible. While running the white of the 

 plumage made them conspicuous against the dark ground, but when motion- 

 less the white seemed merely to break up their shapes and their brownish 

 gray backs were merged in the background. They seemed so soft and 

 chubby and unsuspicious as they trotted about my feet, feeding on their 

 insect fare, that, although they were legal game, it would have been 

 like making war upon babes and innocents to shoot them. Chapman 

 says: 



" Their simple, sweet, plaintive call is one of the most characteristic notes 

 lieard on our shores. At noonday, when the heat waves 

 are dancing over the marshes and even the twittering ^j _ ^ 

 oxeyes are silent, one may hear the cool, pure notes of this 

 little plover. They may be written as in the accompanying 

 text figure ; a third shorter note is sometimes added. Even 

 a whistled imitation of them takes me to the beaches." 



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